Sadeke Brooks, Staff Reporter

Flippa Mafia - Contributed

He might be creating waves as the 'Flossing King', singing about his Porsche Cayenne and expensive liquor, but Philadelphia-based artiste Flippa Mafia did not have an easy ride into the dancehall.

Flippa Mafia, whose real name is Andrew Davis, said he made a name for himself in Jamaica before he migrated to the United States in 2001. However, getting into the business was not easy.

"My biggest obstacle in the business was when mi used to go studio and get lock out. I have been through it all. All a dem artiste deh can tell yuh," he told THE STAR.

While in Jamaica, he said he got the opportunity to perform on shows including Sting in 1991, Sound Splash, and Teen Splash.

Recognisable in the dancehall

But it was not until recently that Flippa Mafia's name became recognisable in the dancehall with songs like Dem Yah, Me Boasy, Liquor, Rolling Deep, Look Alike and Gal Done Like Mi. He says the rhythms are sent to him by Jamaican producers via email and he records the songs in his studio abroad.

"Mi lucky fi have a song a play in a dancehall a Jamaica and mi nuh live deh," he said. "Music a something weh mi love do so mi just a gwaan keep focused and hope mi nuh have no more distractions. Mi just a express miself inna music cause three-quarter a di things dem weh mi talk bout a true. The rest are things weh mi waan fi happen."

Though he would love to perform for his Jamaican fans at the earliest possible date, they may have to wait.

'Build up mi catalogue'

"I am getting a lot of calls about shows. I am almost sure that I will be performing for fans in Jamaica by December. Mi just waan build up mi catalogue cause mi nuh waan disappoint mi fans dem," said a confident Flippa Mafia who grew up in Waterhouse, Kingston.

Nonetheless, Flippa Mafia said he will continue to sing about flossing because that is his reality.

"Mi used to floss from before mi have money so now that mi have money mi waan enjoy mi money. A nuh show-off a boasy mi boasy, from high school," said Flippa Mafia who attended Trench Town and Norman Manley high schools. "I like to floss. Every day mi wake up and floss. Right now a mi house mi deh a play playstation and a drink Hennessy."

Flippa Mafia's next release is Shine Shine. He will also appear in the upcoming movie What Goes Around that will be shown for one night only on October 9 in Toronto, Canada.